Lokeren cross delivers shocks: Nieuwenhuis flips X2O standings after Nys-drama, Brand wins again
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleJoris Nieuwenhuis turned the X2O Trophy on its head in Lokeren, soloing to a commanding win while pre-race favourite Thibau Nys endured a nightmare afternoon. After a cautious opening, the Dutchman surged clear midway through the Rapencross and steadily widened the gap as mistakes and mechanical issues mounted behind.
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Michael Vanthourenhout chased in vain to take second, with Niels Vandeputte rounding out the podium. With Nys finishing well down after repeated bike changes and a crash, Nieuwenhuis vaulted from eighth to first in the overall time-based classification in a single day.
Nys’ day unravelled early. Held up after the start, the European champion tried to move forward only to be stung by repeated pit-lane issues; visible frustration followed, and later a tumble in the sand compounded the damage.
Even as Nys regrouped, Nieuwenhuis kept pressing, riding an unflustered tempo that broke Vanthourenhout’s resistance and left the rest conceding close to a minute or more. The Dutchman’s emphatic turnaround—less than 24 hours after losing 2:38 to Nys on the Koppenberg.
Continue reading after!
Lucinda Brand on a roll
In sharp contrast to her Koppenberg slugfest 24 hours earlier, Lucinda Brand controlled the women’s race on the slick Park ter Beuken circuit. The Dutch rider from Baloise Glowi Lions bided her time in a five-rider lead group before punching clear on lap five.
Behind, Sara Casasola crashed on the sand, and the fight for the minor places opened up; Marion Norbert Riberolle proved strongest of the chasers, with Aniek van Alphen and Casasola in close attendance.
Brand’s victory extends her early lead in the X2O Trophy standings after also winning Saturday’s opener in Oudenaarde. With Fem van Empel sidelined through illness after her early DNF in Oudenaarde, Brand capitalised to stack more seconds in the time-based series and underline the form shown on the Koppenberg.
Results X2O Trofee Rapencross Lokeren 2025 - Women elite
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results X2O Trofee Rapencross Lokeren 2025 - Men elite
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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